Off to see the wizard: Over The Rainbow winner Danielle Hope makes Dorothy debut with Michael Crawford

She beat hundreds, if not thousands, of wannabe West End stars for her chance to walk in the ruby slippers - and now winner of Over The Rainbow Danielle Hope has danced down the Yellow Brick Road for the first time.

The 18-year-old won the BBC1 show last year and the chance to star in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest musical extravaganza - and last night was her official debut as Dorothy at the London Palladium.

She stars alongside a cute little dog called Razzle playing Toto, Edward Baker-Duly as the Tin Man, David Ganly as the Cowardly Lion, Paul Keating as Scarecrow and West End legend Michael Crawford as the Wizard himself.

Not in Kansas now: Danielle Hope with her fellow Wizard of Oz cast members Edward Baker-Duly, David Ganly, Paul Keating and Michael Crawford

Follow the Yellow Brick Road: Toto - played by West Highland White terrier Razzle looks up at a sausage brandished by The Wizard

West End fresher Danielle is bound to have been given a stage-load of advice by old-hand Michael, who's trod the boards in a host of lavish productions over the years, including Lloyd Webber The Woman In White and The Phantom Of The Opera.

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This time round, he's playing the white haired, green velvet jacketed Wizard, having recovered from serious illness.

The former Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em star contracted ME in 2005 and was left so debilitated by the disease that he could barely climb stairs, let alone undertake a gruelling theatre performance.

Follow, follow, follow: The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man and the Scarecrow follow Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road to see The Wizard

Oh, Toto: Danielle beat thousands of applicants to last year's Over The Rainbow to star as Dorothy, aged just 18

His role is his West End comeback performance and to those in the know of course, far from just being the genius hidden behind the curtains, the Wizard appears in a variety of guises.

In the course of the story, he morphs into a doorman, a carriage-driver and the fortune-teller Professor Marvel.

Michael along with the cast will be singing a brand new score which has been written by Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd Webber, who've been reunited again after 30 years.

Talking to the Daily Mail, Michael said that Danielle is making a good fist of walking in the ruby-slippered footsteps of Judy Garland in the role.

All smiles: Michael says that his co-star Danielle fills Judy Garland's ruby slippers admirably at the London Palladium

He said: 'It's a huge demand to live up to Judy Garland's legend. But Danielle is a big talent, a hard worker and a very strong personality - all the basic ingredients that you need for success.

'She is also a delightful young lady and work-mate.'

He also answered critics who've denigrated the way the Danielle was chosen for the role.

Star quality: The Wizard Of Oz has been previewing all February with press night on 1 March - where the verdict on Danielle will be passed

He said: 'Yes, there is criticism of reality shows that create stars, but in this case it seems acceptable because the part calls for a very young actress who might not have been discovered any other way.

'And, yes, Over The Rainbow - the TV show that found Danielle - was obviously a great plug for The Wizard Of Oz itself. But surely anything that gets audiences into the theatre in this day and age is to be applauded.

'It's great that Danielle already has people who watched her journey on that show now rooting for her in The Wizard Of Oz. I hope all of them will come along to see her.'

The show has been previewing since 7 February and press night is 1 March.